The Gai Family#

Surname: Gai, pronounced as “gài”

Distribution of the Gai Family#

• Yuyang Commandery: Yuyang County was established during the Qin Dynasty; its location corresponded to the area southwest of present-day Miyun, Beijing.
• Anyang Commandery: Established during the Western Han Dynasty, with its administrative center in the southwest of present-day Zhengyang, Henan.
• Runan Commandery: Founded in the fourth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (203 BCE), with its capital in Shangcai (present-day Shangcai, Henan). Its territory included the areas between the Ying River and Huai River in Henan, to the west of the Jingguang Railway, and to the west of the Ci River and Xifei River in Anhui, as well as Yan County, Shangcai County, Pingyu County, and Xiangcheng County. The administrative center was still in Shangcai (present-day Shangcai, Henan).

Origins of the Gai Surname#

1. Derived from the Jiang surname: The Gai surname originated from the fiefdom of Wang Huan, a nobleman from the State of Qi during the Warring States period. Many members of the Gai clan revere Wang Huan as the progenitor of their surname. The correct pronunciation of this branch of the Gai surname is “gě” (ㄍㄜˇ).
2. Result of name changes among ethnic minorities: Some members of the Gai clan adopted Han-style surnames after assimilation.
3. From the Mongolian ethnic group: The Mongolian surname “Gaizhu” was adapted into the Han Chinese surname “Gai,” with the same pronunciation (“gài” ㄍㄞ?A).
4. From the Manchu ethnic group: According to the “Qing Dynasty General Records: Clan Studies: Manchu Eight Banners Surnames,” the Manchu surname “Gegiyala Hala” was also adapted into the Han Chinese surname “Gai” (ㄍㄞ?A).

Progenitor of the Surname: Wang Huan. According to the “Dialectics of Ancient and Modern Surnames,” the surname Gai originally came from an ancient place name. During the Warring States period, Wang Huan, a nobleman from the State of Qi, was granted a fiefdom named “Gai,” and his descendants adopted this name as their surname. By the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, two additional branches of the Gai surname emerged in northern China. According to the “Book of Wei,” there were also members of the Hu ethnic group with the Gai surname, as well as those who changed their surname from “Gailou” to “Gai.” The Gai clan has significant historical roots in various regions, including Yuyang and Luoyang.

Migration and Distribution: The Gai surname has a diverse origin and is ranked 226th on the list of common Chinese surnames, with a population of approximately 246,000, accounting for about 0.015% of the national population. The Gai surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. During the Warring States period, there was a place named “Gai” in the State of Qi (located in present-day Yishui County, Shandong Province), and a nobleman named Wang Kuan was granted this fiefdom; his descendants adopted the name “Gai” as their surname. Other branches of the Gai surname may have originated from other ethnic groups. Over time, these different branches have merged, and there is no longer a distinction between them. The prominent Gai clans are located in Anyang Commandery (now in present-day Biyang County, Henan Province) and Runan Commandery (present-day Runan County, Henan Province).

Notable Figures with the Gai Surname:

• Gai Yan: A general during the Eastern Han Dynasty, known for his exceptional height and strength. He served as a military officer and later joined Emperor Guangwu of Han.
• Gai Wenda and Gai Wenyi: Two scholars from the Tang Dynasty who were highly respected for their knowledge of Confucianism.
• Gai Yu: A figure from the Tang Dynasty whose life and achievements are recorded in historical texts.

Clan Hierarchy and Generations:

• Liaoning Wafangdian Gai clan: “Yuyi Jinglong Zengqing Minglin Shicheng.”
• Guizhou Bijie Gai clan: “Tiankai Liangshan Yongzhen Chaogang Jiaxue Hongsheng.”
• Jiangsu Feng County Gai clan: “Zhaocheng Shushi (Hong) Zeng (Da) Zhi (Tian) Xingzhao (You Shao) Xian (Ming) Xiuyu (Rongwen) Lü (Shi) Houde Ben Shouzhongshu Chuanjia Guangji Ruilong Qingzheng.”
• Jiangsu Xuzhou Gai clan: “Yunru Congrenyi Li Zhi Xin.”
• Other branches of the Gai clan: Various generational patterns exist across different regions in China.

Halls Established Based on Family Hometowns:

• Yuyang Hall: Established in honor of the family's origins in Yuyang.
• Anyang Hall: Established in honor of the family's origins in Anyang.
• Luoyang Hall: Established in honor of the family's origins in Luoyang.
• Runan Hall: Established in honor of the family's origins in Runan.
• Chongxian Hall: Established during the Tang Dynasty in honor of the fame of the Gai Wenda and Gai Wenyi brothers.

The Gai surname is a historic and diverse one with a population of over 246,000 people, accounting for about